Vietnam's best-kept secret

 VietNamNet Bridge – Roughly 30km from Phan Rang City in the southern province of Binh Thuan, Binh Tien beach is a hidden gem for tourists who want to discover new experiences and rejuvenate.

The 10 ICT most outstanding events in 2012 in the eyes of journalists

The Vietnam ICT Press Club on December 27 released the 10 information and communication technology (ICT) events in 2012 selected by 40 journalists.

HCM City: Water resources polluted, diseases stalking

VietNamNet Bridge - Canals inherently have a drainage function, but in HCM City, this has become one of the potentials and "resident" of dozens of diseases.

What Vietnamese millionaires spend money on?

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese millionaires are rich enough to spend billions of dong on a bird cage, millions of dong on a Canadian gooey duck, or thousands of dollars on tiny shrimps.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/1

Inefficient telecom firms to go bankrupt; Vietnam one of attractive destinations for tourists in 2013; State bank to offer USD1.9 billion in loans for house buyers; Industrial growth slows to 4.8 percent; ACB suffers big loss in gold business

Businesses still concerned about uncertainty

In addition to the daily concerns about the market and sales decline, businesses are also worried that the uncertainties of the business environment and the volatility of macroeconomic policies will affect their operations in 2013.

EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 1-15 (daily updated)

Updated information about cultural events in big cities of Vietnam.

2012 – The year of sorrow for Vietnamese businesses

Vietnamese businesses had never before faced so many difficulties as in 2012. The stories about the enterprises incurring loss or getting bankrupt were so popular that they did not surprise anyone.

Jesse Campbell to sing in The Voice’s final show

Jesse Campbell, the outstanding member of Christina Aguilera’s team in the second season of The Voice America arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on January 5 to join the top 4 of The Voice Vietnam in the final competition on January 13.

The $1 million bamboo house in Tay Ninh

VietNamNet Bridge - The house is located in Trang Bang district, southern province of Tay Ninh, around 48km from Ho Chi Minh City. This bamboo house was offered for sale at the price of $1 million in the Wall Street Journal.

Labor export fails to meet yearly plan, faces fierce competition

In 2012, the labor export industry did not reach the Government's target. It is forecast that in 2013, this sector will face more difficulty because of the freezing of the major markets and the intense competition in the markets for manual workers.

Job places fall in HCM City

 VietNamNet Bridge – Staff recruitment in HCM City dropped by 2.9 per cent this year compared to 2011, according to the city's Centre for Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information.

How big is the Vietnamese branded goods market (part 3)

Though meeting big difficulties in doing business now, the Vietnamese businessmen distributing branded goods still have reasons to hope in a brighter future.

Saigon Heat to compete in ASEAN tourney

 VietNamNet Bridge – Saigon Heat, Vietnam’s professional basketball team, will compete in the 2013 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Championship.

The blameworthy education incidents in 2012

2012 was an unlucky year of the Vietnamese education, when a lot of incidents occurred.

Good idea of hydropower plant developer brings bad things to local farmers

When raising the dam elevation by one more meter, the Song Con 2 hydropower plant expects to earn 10 billion dong more a year. However, hundreds of households have shouted for help because they have lost land.

The “domain name baron” threatened to be sued

Nguyen Trong Khoa, who is well known as the “domain name baron,” may be sued by Eurowindow as a blackmailer.

Sharp tour fee reductions cannot boost sales

VietNamNet Bridge – A paradox exists that tour fees have decreased sharply in the Tet high tourism season. However, the tour fee reductions still cannot help stimulate demand.

Vietnam promising land for consumer finance in 2013

Experts believe that consumer finance would witness a boom in 2013, when there are all favorable conditions for the market to develop.

Smuggling and violence on trains gather steam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Both smuggling and violence on trains are increasing, and the problems will only get worse as the Tet festival approaches, warns the Viet Nam Railway Corporation.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 31/12

Revenue from retail and services up 16%; VN eyes $7-bln investment in Laos; Hanoi: 8.1 percent economic growth; Auto registration fee cuts seen not steep enough; VNPost looks for express delivery

Halcyon days of cheap labour over

 VietNamNet Bridge – Rising wages in Vietnam are prompting many foreign investors in labour-intensive industries to look to other countries with cheaper labour cost to make investments.

PM plants seeds for flora import restrictions move

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a project to prevent and control the import of alien species of flora and fauna into the country.

Coach Hoang Tuan to instruct national football team

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) negotiated with coach Hoang Anh Tuan and the results obtained made both happy.

Ministry of Culture finds 2013 Tourism Ambassador candidates

VietNamNet Bridge - After actress Ly Nha Ky completed the mission of the 2012 Tourism Ambassador, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is seeking nominees for the Tourism Ambassador 2013 position.